I have two words "worth it". My husband and I were on a road trip, happy to stop for the night. Imagine our thrill to find this gem in the middle of nowhere (not really, but you get my point). The atmosphere is beautiful. The people are welcoming. The food delicious. Our sever, Kelly, was super helpful and all of her recommendations were spot on from the bourbon cocktail to the white fried chicken to the burger. No complaints from either of us...in fact we are trying to figure out when we might be able to go back. Highly recommend. A little pricey, but as I said "worth it". read more

Firefly Grill - Steakhouses Near Me - Effingham, Illinois

Giving three stars for the moment. I didn't eat much while I was here. I stopped in on my way back to Tennessee. I had never been or really ever heard of it. It's tucked away from the exit. I honestly, wasn't even very hungry. Driving up the place is gorgeous. Very rustic and farmhouse styled, I mean, it is Farm to table. I felt like an idiot, as what looks like the front door, is a window. Door is to the left. Place was fairly empty, but I took a seat at the bar. I was by myself, so it worked. Bartender was nice. I let her know I wasn't very hungry, just wanted an app or something light. She gave her suggestion and also suggested apple cider martini. Oh my gosh, that martini was fantastic. Had I not been driving, I would've had more. I ended up just getting the hummus plate. Homemade ciabatta bread, hummus, olive tapenade, and roasted tomatoes. Although it was good, the menu said it would come with veggies and queso. Little disappointed there. I would like to come back and have an actual meal. Everything sounded good. So for now, three stars. read more

Third time I've been to the Firefly, first time during COVID, and it was pure luck that we decided to do takeout on the day that they reopened! During the months that they were closed, their website explained how hesitant they were to do takeout, that it would not do justice to their kitchen creations. WORRY NOT, Firefly, you are doing just fine! Firefly also has outdoor dining. They source their ingredients locally. If you choose to eat outside, you will have a view of their gardens. Our hamburgers, pork buns, Caprese salad (with honest to god burrata) and Margherita pizza made the trek back to Saint Louis. All were perfect, and as good as I remember from years past. Portions were big, the tomatoes were beautiful, the balsamic reduction a bit sweeter than I remember. The management will probably cringe when they read this, but reheating worked well. After all, we live two hours away, and a family getaway was impossible that night. For those considering take out: -they use aluminum takeout containers so that the dishes retain a good amount of their heat. -reheating was easy. We put the hot items in our toaster oven for a few minutes. -bring a flat produce box or bin so you can stabilize your takeout and segregate the hot from cold. -it's not a compromise. Or eat outside. The location is pretty scenic. read more

This place is fantastic! We dropped in for a lunch with some clients and it was totally worth it. The place is very well done, great service, and the best part was the food! Menu options are wide even for lunch, I would enjoy coming back for dinner sometime with my bride and enjoy a cocktail or a glass of wine. Take the time to put this place on your To Do list. The flavors are deep. I had the chicken sandwich for lunch with a side salad. The chicken was grilled perfectly, the pretzel bun was fresh, it had slices of apple, Brie cheese, and bacon. Delicious! read more

First impressions: Love the building. It has a nice porch for tables outside for when the weather is nice. Clean. Great, friendly, and accommodating staff. Menu: I do love the 'farm and table' or 'farm to table' concepts, but what I can never understand is why places like these are so expensive. I can not understand it because I grow my own organic garden. I also know where to find organic and non-GMO garbanzo beans from a 5th generation family to make my own hummus. Comparing the cost of the hummus platter ($10), I can get a 5 pound bag for $15, and I can turn about 2 cups of dried garbanzo beans into about 6 cups of hummus. Food: Awesome! I had the Bangers N Mash. I wish I could get a hug jar of the Red Onion Jam because I would put that on everything. I also had the corn chowder which was fantastic. More Please! My fiancé had the Mushroom and Swiss Burger with a fried egg, and all I can say is he didn't come up for air. His mom had the 6oz filet; it was cooked just right and cut like butter. Her husband had the Tomato bisque; that was lovely and creamy. (Side note: Chef. You almost have a heavy hand with the salt.) Lovely place. I'm from out of town. I will come back when I'm visiting again. read more

We were traveling on I-70 and found this place on Yelp. What a find! Firefly is a beautiful building in a bucolic setting, only a mile or two from I-70 and right down the street from the Hampton Inn. The meal was perfectly prepared and beautifully presented. Great, friendly service. I enjoyed the delicious rolls, crusty and a little salty on top, but tender and tangy in the center. The butter was just the right consistency for spreading and especially fresh tasting. We ordered the morels with two dipping sauces, crabcakes with garlic fries, and a fish dish. Everything was terrific, and I used the fries to sop up the last of the sauce from my fish. Expensive, but oh so worth it! read more

See all

Great find in Effingham. Beautiful location. Good service. Had the Pastrami Sandwich and Fish Tacos. read more

Firefly Grill - Pastrami Sandwich - Steakhouses Near Me - Effingham, Illinois

See all

We stumbled on this place when we happened to be passing through. What a lucky day for us. The food was delicious. My husband got the pork burger and I had the scallop risotto. The dessert menu looked fabulous, but we were too stuffed from lunch to try it out. The wait staff was attentive and the place is nicely decorated too. If we are ever in the area again we'll come back to Firefly for sure. read more

Received response from owner thanking me for my reviewing really did not answer my statement about about $9.00 10 oz. draft. Totally in my opinion did not read just gave general response. Another reason not to go here after I thought I would go back. read more

This would have been a 5 Star, but for the fact our server got my husband's order wrong, told him it would be "taken care of/comped" and offered him an extra side of green beans so he could at least eat while I did...none of the above happened...I ate my meal, which was a seasonal dish and wonderful, however, my husband had to eat fast and was never given his side of green beans as promised...and the meal just had $6.00 taken off...GREAT FOOD, just lacking in the best customer service. read more

Firefly Grill - Steakhouses Near Me - Effingham, Illinois

See all

Farm to table freshness. The staff is amazing friendly and very knowledgeable about every ingredient where when and how it's prepared. I'm so impressed with this restaurant from the moment I was greeted. Every dish was an artistic perfection masterpiece. One bite after another was scrumptious satisfaction. I felt comfortable and not rushed. This restaurant is family friendly with large tables , a bar area too to catch a game , smaller tables too for a more intimate dinner for two. There was two larger rooms in back maybe for private dining or large parties. It was evening I didn't have time to walk the outside of property. Next time I look forward to seeing the farm. read more

See all

Traveling from Alabama up to Naperville, IL along I-57. Stopped to get gas in Effingham around dinner time and found this jewel nearby! At first site I loved the look of the building. Rustic, reclaimed wood, metal fixtures, and blue accents. At first we didn't think we could get a table with no reservation...but we were in luck. Although we did not get to sit outside but that's ok. Everything on the menu sounded so good! But I opted for the burger so I would not have to worry about leftovers on the remainder of our drive. Finished it ALL! Delicious burger. Husband got a mushroom sausage pizza and enjoyed it as well. He had leftovers though..decent size pizza. Everything was good and speedy. Pizza took less time to cook than the menu stated. I recommend this place to everyone. Better than the fast food places nearby. The dollar sign indication for this place on Yelp needs to be adjusted though. It's not that cheap. Minimum it's a 3 dollar sign place, but that's not a bad thing either. It's worth the price! read more

I would like to give 3.5 stars but unfortunately you can't give 1/2 star ratings, and I just can't give it a 4 star! The service deserves a 4 star and the entree was equally a 4 star. However the apps and salad were just not up to par. We both had the Fried Chicken Vichyssoise and really thought it was outstanding.... well prepared, and tasty... the sweet corn vichyssoise was creamy with a wonderful sweetness and mozzarella balls with the fresh herbs really sets this chicken dish apart from other fried chicken dishes I've had at other hi dollar restaurants. The freshness of their farm to table approach is quite evident but just not a 4 star for me tonight.....I will return!! read more

Was so impressed to find this gem of a restaurant in the middle of Illinois! Everything was delicious!!!

This was a surprise. Awesome atmosphere. Brittany told my son he could feed the fish and brought him a bucket of fish food. The hummus appetizer was great. Fish tacos were fresh. My ice tea wasn't ever empty. Staff was attentive although it took a few minutes to place an order. I wish we had something like this near us in cincinnati. We will stop for sure the next trip to St. Louis. Thanks for a great meal! read more

We were traveling through and found this neat place. A bit expensive but worth every dollar. Would definitely recommend. read more

See all

Stopped here to grab dinner before our destination of Mount Vernon, IL. Gotta say, was not expecting to find a place like Firefly Grill in Effingham, IL. We were resigned to eat some fast food or a chain restaurant so when I saw the sign along 57 that just read Fireplace Grill "Farm to Table", we had to check it out. You can see the farm on the side and in back of the restaurant. They know and work with all the local farms for their meat. Seafood is all flown in fresh. Cool and casual vibe with a diverse crowd mix. Food was excellent. We had the pork meatballs with garlic toast, crab cakes, simple salad and dessert of the week which was a homemade ice-cream sandwich. The ice-cream sandwich was more of a shortcake with your pick of one of six homemade ice-creams - we went with salted caramel. The pork meatballs were my favorite, flavorful, moist. My husband surprised me when he said his favorite was the salad. It was a clean and fresh palate cleanser, not weighed down with a bunch of other ingredients besides some fresh queso. The crab cakes were good, not too much, we didn't want to gorge ourselves. Although that went out the window when the ice-cream sandwich arrived - it's sized like a shortcake and we ate every bite of it, scraping the melted ice-cream out of the plate with no shame. Pumped to know this is here, and it will become our regular stop to eat when visiting my folks. read more

Firefly Grill - Steakhouses Near Me - Effingham, Illinois

The food here was amazing! One of the best meals I have ever had! I was pleasantly surprised at the quality of food for a tiny little place in a tiny town. The standards and quality warrant the prices, but may not be for everyone's budget. So worth checking out!! My only recommendation for improvement...train the wait staff better. Our waitress had to go back and ask three different questions due to her lack of knowledge about the menu. One was as simple as do you make your dressing in house... read more

Firefly Grill - NY strip with herb butter, whipped potatoes and demi glacé - Steakhouses Near Me - Effingham, Illinois

In Effingham on business, I was excited about eating here, as I had checked out the local restaurant scene before flying. I was seated quickly and served quickly; the speedy service likely resulted in the error that stole a star from this review. While I was considering both the lobster risotto or the scallop risotto, I ordered the lobster risotto. I then sipped my water and wine and got distracted by some email. When the scallop risotto arrived, I snapped the attached picture and started eating. The risotto was creamy and delicious, very well seasoned. The scallops...as I ate half of one...I realized that the order was filled incorrectly. I pointed it out to the server but told him I was okay with the mistake, I had failed to notice it right away, so there's that. The scallops were a little over salted for me but eating pieces of the scallop along with the risotto balanced everything out nicely. The dinner rolls were great. I hope I get a chance to come back to Effingham to actually try the lobster risotto but otherwise, this is a beautiful restaurant it would be a great place to visit when it isn't below 30 degrees outside and you can enjoy a meal on the porch. read more

Stopped for lunch on drive from Chicago to Memphis. Cheese pizza and grilled greens were excellent as was the service. Sat in the glassed in patio overlooking the pond. The perfect respite from a long drive. read more

Visiting while driving through. The food was delivered to our table quickly and was absolutely delicious. My fiancé said that he thinks this is the nicest restaurant we've been to together and I agree! We had the filet with mashed potatoes and the scallops risotto and both were perfectly cooked. The view out over the water was wonderful as well. I used to stop at Steak n Shake every time I went through Effingham. Now I'll be stopping at Firefly Grill! read more

This place is actually pretty famous in the region. Definitely a foodie restaurant because a lot of people from St. Louis will make nearly two hour trek just for this place. The food is amazing and the staff is super friendly. This is a great spot for a nice date night or if you want to treat yourself. Its farm to table food that is worth the price of admission! read more

Maybe my expectations were a little high. Not my first time here, but my first time in a while. Had been there closer to their opening, so the honeymoon period ensured details were taken care of. This time we enjoyed a glass of wine from their lovely selection. We had a fantastic, energetic, but not overzealous server. It was the food that was the issue for me. I wanted the crab purses, but our server insisted that the calamari was fantastic. Not a big fan of the token calamari that seems to be on every menu, but I caved with a glance from my wife. We also tried the poutine, their take on the classic Canadian dish. The calamari came out over cooked and extremely salty, almost inedible. The gravy on the poutine had been reduced to the point where salt was the dominant flavor. We were guests of friends who are local who pride themselves on this restaurant, so nothing was said. The saving grace was the Caesar salad that they serve with fresh white anchovies. Ordered extra fish on mine. Yum! But then my entrée, the chicken and waffles, which I guessed had to be amazing to be put on a 'fine dining' menu, was disappointing. The flavor was there, but the chicken must have been cooked in the same temperature oil that the calamari had. The outside was dark and crispy, too crispy with the coating crumbing off. The inside of the larger bone-in thigh was raw. Might have been a bad kitchen night. Or has complacency set in after the glow of the marriage has faded? read more

Was passing through Effingham on our way home and wanted to stop for dinner on a Sunday. Found this restaurant on Yelpp and tried it out. We were seated quickly and everybody was super pleasant. They brought out delicious, fresh out of the oven pretzel rolls...a must try. I had the Asian Tuna Poke salad...AMAZING! The salad was large, I couldn't finish it, but I'm not sad that I have lunch already for tomorrow. My husband ordered the Sea Bass, again, it didn't disappoint. He was eating it so fast, I almost didn't get to taste it. I'm a sucker for brussel sprouts. When it came out, they were nicely roasted, just the way I like them. We both thought they were so good. My husband thought they were a little over salted, but i thought they were perfect. I'm so glad we found this little gem. We even had the chance to feed the crazy big fish off their back deck. If you're wondering if your should try this place..DO IT! read more

We were back today and everything was as good as before. I had the chefs chicken dish, my husband had the chefs pork dish and my grandson had pizza. The squash blossoms were not available but that was ok. I had a nice red wine with my meal. Waitstaff was very attentive and knowledgeable of the food served there. I have a milk allergy and they were able to feed me without it being lacking in flavor. read more

Stopped on the way to TN with my daughter and granddaughter. Wow! Delicious food and great service. Seafood Chowder, Classic Burger and Butter Noodles were fantastic! Anytime we are traveling by we'll stop on in. Thank you. read more

This was our seventh visit to the restaurant my second time there for dinner. For the lunches I would say they've consistently scored an A- and or an A. For my two dinners I would say the first time was a solid A but this time it wasC+. The visit started with me standing in the vestibule for five minutes with 10 other people and another 3 to 6 people outside the door. A server was locked in the conversation with somebody who wanted a table an hour and a half out presumably after the REO Speedwagon concert while the host was absent. We had an 8 o'clock reservation however we're half hour early with the presumption that we would have a cocktail at the bar while we waited. We were seated immediately which was much appreciated. Our server was very nice and attentive. The wine I ordered unfortunately was not delivered to the table as it was on count. This was surprising since I asked the waitress if anything had been 86 from the menu and/or was short supply. The day boat halibut had a beautiful presentation a lovely sauce accompanied by morels, my favorite, and porcini mushroom raviolis. Everything about the dish was perfect except for the fish which was overcooked and dry. The English peas and the onions were nice, but had too much oil. The Elotee was wonderful and though my wife might nitpick of it being on the cob this to me was not a reason to downgrade it. I thought the fried green tomatoes were wonderful. I was disappointed by the lack of ingredients from their own farm on the menu, but the waitress assured me that the bulk of the ingredients were from local farms. I have a special place in my heart for a restaurant in Wisconsin where everything is sourced within 50 miles including the butcher being on the same block so I am not critical of the sourcing from local farms. That said I saw strawberries, basil, habaneros and other items growing that weren't on the menu. I thought the maple apple and the salted caramel ice cream which we added on were wonderful but I was disappointed that the pastry chef was the highlight to the evening. I have zero objection to a $260 meal for two with a bottle of wine. We are chalking this up to an off night and will return, but had this been our first time given the price and overall experience, it would have likely been our first and our last. Hoping the next go round restores our confidence. read more

Have been wanting to stop here forever, and tonight was the night. My husband and I loved every bite!! We started with the crab toast, which was delicious!! My entree was the seared scallops with risotto. It was cooked and seasoned perfectly!!! My eyes rolled in the back of my head with every bite!! My husband had the pork shank with Brussels sprouts, parsnips, and slaw, which was also simply amazing!! Everything was incredibly fresh, seasoned perfectly, and hot!! We ended our meal by sharing the peach cobbler with Makers Mark ice cream...to die for! The atmosphere was great. Love the simple logo, wood, windows, simple tables, settings, etc. it was night so we didn't get a view of the back of the property (next time). Our waitress, Rebecca, was incredible!! She was friendly, knowledgeable, attentive, efficient, and still very professional. And, we even got to talk to one of the owners, Niall. Fantastic evening! It was definitely worth every penny!! We will make the 90 minute drive again, soon, I hope!! PS Don't believe those 1, 2, or 3 star reviews. Most of them seemed to be complaining about the pricing or time it took to get a fresh prepared meal...crazy! read more

I've been to Firefly Grill four times now, with noteworthy experiences at each mealtime: Lunch, Dinner (twice), and Brunch. LUNCH: Boyfriend took me here for a birthday lunch. Overpriced, but good flavors. I ordered the shrimp po' boy, which came with a sauce that had more of a kick than I expected. The boyfriend had one of the burger options and some fries, which he enjoyed. DINNER X1: Again, overpriced, but good flavors. My dad and I decided to split apps and entrees. The chopped salad was light and refreshing and really, really tasty. The French onion soup is the best I've tried outside of the Mon Ami Gabi chain of restaurants. The halibut was fine, but at $38, I'd choose a different entree next time. The pork burger was just too rich. I couldn't eat more than a quarter of it, and even that was pushing it. There are definitely people who would love to eat a whole one - I am not one of those people. DINNER X2: Highlights of the meal were the passionfruit mousse shooter and the sunchoke/sweet potato appetizer. The crab cakes were tasty, and they happily switched out the french fries for some mushroom risotto - much preferred! The swordfish piccata was good, too, but again - $38. Just not a price you expect to pay for the portion you get. BRUNCH: The best meal yet. I positively inhaled the eggs benedict, and my boyfriend loved his chicken and waffles. We got the chopped salad and the passionfruit mousse for a second time, too, because both dishes were worth re-ordering. Shame the salad is one of the place's many seasonal items. We got the best bang for our buck at this meal. My biggest complaint, aside from the price of certain items, is that I think Firefly could include some non-alcoholic mocktails on their "Farmacy" menu. I've stopped drinking alcohol for health reasons, but I've often looked enviously at the drinks menu, wishing I could try some of these cool-sounding libations. It'd be something to consider, Firefly folks. This is definitely not the kind of restaurant you expect to find in Effingham, Illinois. But since it's here, I will continue to go to Firefly for a great "special occasion" kind of meal. read more

We have been traveling for 5 weeks, so we've been at our fair share of restaurants. I have to say Firefly Grill topped our list. The country charm mixed with modern touches made for a lovely ambience. Their cocktail menu had some unique features. The mandarin old fashioned was excellent. I had 2! Our dinner consisted of the cheese curd appetizer with 2 dipping sauces. Both unique and wonderful! I had the salmon dinner. Skin was crispy and salmon was cooked perfectly. The succotash on top was perfect. My husband had scallops risotto. Equally tasty. Finished off the evening with peace cobbler. Service was perfect. Owners of this restaurant obviously love it and take great pride in it. Anyone going through Effingham should try Firefly read more

The food was amazing. I honestly enjoyed the atmosphere and the waitress was perfect. The water was also so crisp. I would say that the food was a tad overpriced for what was being served. I understand it is fine dining, but the items still need to reflect their true cost. Still, had a great time and was delicious. read more

Fantastic food and friendly & helpful staff. Gave us seats by the window overlooking a small man-made lake. We decided to split the ribeye steak sandwich, which came with garlic steak fries, and both were delicious! Kinda pricey for lunch though... over $21 for one sandwich and one glass of peach tea (but it did taste like it was made with fresh peaches). We learned as we were leaving that the menu is made from locally grown ingredients as their mission is all about sustainability. All in all, it was worth the stop! read more

See all

What a great restaurant. Clean as could be. We were able to see the chefs working diligently to get the orders out in a timely manner. The food was really good. My husband had the fish tacos with Brussels sprouts. I had the home made pastrami sandwich and my side was the green beans. I would have asked for them to be cooked longer as I don't care for al dante. I was stuffed after eating it but I couldn't pull myself away from it. It is a shame that it is not closer to my home. Effingham is three hours away. We will have to plan a golf date to go back. read more

Awesomeness that will wow you no matter what you order. Can compete with every place we have travelled in the world! Don't miss this!

Headed to Terre Haute for the day and had to stay in Effingham due to every hotel being booked for the Nike Regional XC Meet. We rolled into town and I was a little dismayed by lots of interstate fast food fare. I found this amazing little place just down the street from our hotel. Wow! To say this is most definitely the best place to eat in Effingham is an understatement. It is probably the best place to eat in the region. Everything from the table service, staff, food preparation, presentation and ambiance could not have been better. Absolutely gorgeous space with an upscale country/industrial feel. I've never ordered a pork chop for dinner but my entree was nothing short of amazing! Hubby went for the filet and whipped potatoes. The "kids" meal was nothing short of amazing either! Don't get me started on dessert...Our waitress was also fantastic and super helpful when we asked for her recommendation of a pasta place to carbo load. She directed us to Joe's Pizza which hit the spot later for 7 cross country runners! read more

See all

On our way from Mississippi to Chicago. Stopped overnight in Effingham. We eat out a lot. Best restaurant ever. Greeting hostess superb. Sat in the bar before dinner. Bartenders were great. Beefeater dry martini was perfect. Had Victoria as a server. Wonderful. Sea bass and quinoa was great. Halibut with risotto was great. Hummus was great. Desert was great. Atmosphere was perfect. Don't pass this place up! read more

Had a great experience at Firefly. We had a large party (15) and they were very accommodating as the number grew. Stefanie was our waitress and she was outstanding. Food was also outstanding. Highly recommend the fried green tomatoes, onion rings, crispy meatballs and hummus on the appetizer menu as these were great for everyone to share. Great wine list. Steaks, pork chops and scallops were favorites from the entrees and the crispy Brussels Sprouts on the side menu. If you're coming they Effingham and looking for an exceptional dining experience, Firefly is a must! read more

Great dinner! We don't come here often because it's about an hour from our house, but when we do they never disappoint!! Tonight our server was Adam and he was the best! I had rack of lamb which was really good and my husband had Montana Mignon which was also really good! If you haven't been here, you owe it to yourself to stop in for a great dinner or lunch or Sunday brunch! read more

Just made our 2nd annual stop here on our way back home from a family trip to Kentucky. It upheld every single fantastic memory from last year. Food- Excellent flavor in every dish. From the Chicken Sandwich w/Brie, paper thin apples and caramelized onions (!) to the Fish Tacos to the Crab Cakes to the freshly made donut with chocolate and peanut butter glaze (!). Whew. I really could go on and on. Oh! And all with a Farm to Table twist?! Seriously! Did I mention the seasoned fries? ....and the Cream of Mushroom soup. Yikes. We were a party of 8 sharing food so no need to panic. Atmosphere- the decor is stunning. Rustic with maybe a steampunk undertone. Maybe. Light fixtures are thoughtfully placed. Flooring is perfection. Even the dinnerware, drink-ware and flatware completes the vibe. Kid friendly - oh yes. Fantastic kids menu. PLUS they have a gorgeous pond filled with catfish and koi fish that the kids can feed with approved, supplied fish food. Our youngest son's quote when asked how he liked his brick oven pizza: 'it's heaven on a plate' Overall thoughts: when will Firefly II be opening in the Chicago area. read more

Passing through on our trip to our KY cabin from WI. We always stop in Effingham, which is about halfway. I saw the field to fork ad on the billboard on our way into town and asked if we could stop here instead of the usual. What a wonderful surprise! A relaxing stop with fresh and flavorful food. The fish tacos and shrimp poor boy were excellent. The Bloody Marys, for the non-drivers, were perfect. We will be back. A lovely oasis in winter, we can't wait until our future stops to watch how the outside surroundings change. Thank you for a wonderful lunch!! read more